Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — you know, “DEI” — gets a bad rap these days in many sectors. New research, however, suggests that it might add a little “special sauce” to educating kids.
Fostering a sense of identity and belonging through ethnic studies coursework dramatically impacts success for all students, the study suggests, and especially for immigrant youth and children of color.
Coursework that centers students’ varied ethnic identities improves grade point averages, high school graduation rates, attendance and other markers of academic success for all students, University of California Irvine’s Dr. Emily Penner told experts and congressional staff during a Capitol Hill briefing hosted this week by First Focus on Children, and particularly for marginalized groups.
“Making space and rearranging resources takes effort but it also communicates something important to students about how they’re valued,” Dr. Penner said.
Evidence suggests that ethnic studies coursework positively impacts learning in English, the sciences and social studies, Dr. Penner said, and has an outsized impact on math scores. The curriculum also benefits all students across gender, racial and ethnic groups, she added, as well as in special education, among English language learners and across other sectors.
The research comes as initiatives in Congress and state legislatures target inclusion efforts and promote censorship and the whitewashing of history. The Alliance for Student Liberty, created by First Focus on Children, is fighting these efforts to dissolve facts and destabilize public education.
In other research, minority students, including Hispanic youth and youth born outside of the U.S., reported a lower sense of community belonging than their white peers, New York University’s Dr. Sophia Rodriguez reported to attendees. Her work also found that Hispanic students, Spanish speakers and those born outside the U.S. are less likely to report having trust in adults at school.
To improve these conditions in U.S. schools, Dr. Rodriguez recommends embedding Hispanic history and culture in school curriculum, centering youth voices on school boards, diversifying hiring to reflect demographics in school climate and curriculum, and other steps to cultivate an environment of acceptance.
For more information or to contact Drs. Penner and Rodriguez, gimme a shout at MicheleK@FirstFocus.org.